JibJab has launched a comedy-sketch series for the web and mobile devices, hoping premium programming will attract advertisers.

JibJab's new short-form program, The Great Sketch Experiment, is now live on both JibJab.com and VCast, premier-sponsor Verizon's mobile video platform, reports MediaWeek. The 2-4-minute clips feature six JibJab-recruited sketch comedy troupes - directed by John Landis of Animal House, Blues Brothers and The Three Amigos fame.

Verizon Wireless is running five-second spots prior to each sketch; it also has a persistent branding unit visible during the footage. Viewers can vote on the sketches; the winning troupe will receive a $10,000 development deal with JibJab.

"We want JibJab to be a vertical in the comedy space," JibJab-cofounder Gregg Spiridellis is quoted as saying. "And we see a big opportunity to create premium programming that sponsors will want to be associated with."